FAIRHOPE, Ala. — The Eastern Shore Literacy Council (ESLC), a United Way agency, plans to hold its annual fundraiser Sunday, May 3, at 6:30 p.m., at the 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center on Battleship Parkway in Spanish Fort. Rollin’ on the River for Literacy will offer attendees heavy hors d’oeuvres as well as wine and beer. Also part of the fun will be silent and live auctions, as well as a chance to see the sun set across Mobile Bay.

A video presentation to be screened throughout the evening will detail the ongoing efforts of the group, as folks mingle with friends and neighbors.

Barbara Slaton, ESLC executive director, said among the many items up for bid that night will be a weekend at a condominium in Gatlinburg, Tenn. and several local dinner-and-a-movie packages. Tax-deductible tickets are $25 per person, and may be purchased by calling (251) 990-8300.

McDonald’s is the primary event sponsor. It is also sponsored in part by Publix and Kohl’s.

The nonprofit organization’s mission is helping adults function more effectively in society by improving their educational skills. The group has always provided materials and trained volunteer tutors to help adults and older teens reach that goal.

Doing so costs money, according to Slaton. She said although all tutoring is done by volunteers, the literacy materials alone cost $40 for each student. The services are free, however, and none of the costs are passed along to the client.

In addition to teaching individuals how to read and write, ESLC also helps area immigrants by teaching English as a second language. Although many come to Baldwin County from Mexico, others have migrated from Hungary and Vietnam.

Another important service, she said, is preparation for the GED exam. The program helps high school students, along with those entering the work force — some for the first time.

According to statistics provided by ESLC, the impact of illiteracy in Alabama is staggering. It is reported that 50 percent of adult Alabamians who receive welfare do not have a high school diploma or GED, and that over 65 percent of welfare recipients who earn a high school diploma or GED leave welfare and become self-sufficient within two years.

“About one-third of our population is not graduating from high school, primarily because they can’t read,” Slaton said. She doesn’t necessarily blame the schools for the problem, but rather suggests a variety of things may be the cause.

Among those is poverty. Some quit school to get a job to help their family. Others fall ill and get behind during their recovery.

She noted, “There are things that interfere with life.”

ESLC is currently working with the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Department’s Early Release Program to bring literacy assistance to prisoners at the Loxley Work Release and Community Work Center. Slaton said she approached District Court Judge Jody Bishop with the idea of training inmates to tutor other inmates, and he liked the idea and helped set the wheels in motion.

The inmates are tutored four days a week for one hour to 90 minutes. She pointed out that around 65 percent of jail inmates are functionally illiterate.

Slaton said Care House is training inmates in order to improve their parenting skills and providing family counseling, while ESLC is bringing to the table the basic literacy and GED components. The joint effort is headquartered in Robertsdale.

“They’ll come to us and we’ll test them and, if needed, we’ll teach them to read. If they’re at a higher level, we’ll refer them to the GED program,” Slaton said. “Hopefully they’ll have an arsenal to prepare them for life, not fall back to what they were doing in the past.”

Some inmates who are nearing release have already asked if they can help by continuing to volunteer as tutors. She said, “For the first time in their life, they’re giving something without receiving.”

ESLC serves an area that includes Daphne, Fairhope, Montrose, Point Clear and Spanish Fort, and provides services through around 60 trained volunteer tutors.

“I try to get to know them a bit — find out what they want to learn,” Slaton said. Sometimes they simply want to read road signs, a restaurant menu, or help their children with their homework.

Some hide their inability to read and write throughout life. Slaton added, “What we see as easy is difficult to them. They’re frustrated. We’re here to help, and we’ll help as many as we can.”

More volunteers are needed to serve as tutors, she said. Plans call for a drive to expand the English as a second language program by contacting businesses whose employees may need assistance.

“Anyone who can read and has the time to devote to someone else is welcome,” Slaton said.

ESLC serves 150-200 people across the board each year, and she credits the dedication of the volunteers for making it possible.

Some tutoring takes place at their Fairhope Avenue office, and clients also meet with tutors in public buildings.

Slaton said, “The libraries have been wonderful. They’re very cooperative.”